Posle sastanka ću probati patike koje su u prodavnici.

Breakdown of Posle sastanka ću probati patike koje su u prodavnici.

biti
to be
u
in
prodavnica
store
posle
after
hteti
will
koji
that
sastanak
meeting
probati
to try
patika
sneaker

Questions & Answers about Posle sastanka ću probati patike koje su u prodavnici.

Why is sastanka used instead of sastanak?

Because posle requires the genitive case. The base noun is sastanak meaning meeting, and its genitive singular form is sastanka.

So:

  • sastanak = meeting
  • posle sastanka = after the meeting / after a meeting
What exactly does posle sastanka mean?

It means after the meeting. Literally:

  • posle = after
  • sastanka = of the meeting

Serbian often uses a preposition plus a case ending where English just uses a fixed phrase.

Why is ću separate from probati?

This is a normal way to form the future tense in Serbian:

  • ću = I will
  • probati = try

So ću probati = I will try.

In Serbian, ću is a clitic, which means it usually goes in the second position of the sentence or clause. Since the sentence begins with Posle sastanka, the ću comes right after that opening phrase:

  • Posle sastanka ću probati...
Could this also be said as Probaću?

Yes. Probaću is another correct future form, made by combining the verb with ću.

So these are both possible:

  • Posle sastanka ću probati patike...
  • Posle sastanka probaću patike...

The version with separate ću is very common, especially when another phrase comes first.

What case is patike in?

It is in the accusative plural because it is the direct object of probati:

  • probati šta?patike

For this noun, the accusative plural looks the same as the nominative plural, so the form stays patike.

Does patike mean one shoe or a pair?

Patike is plural and usually refers to sneakers/trainers/a pair of sneakers in normal usage.

  • patika = one sneaker
  • patike = sneakers / a pair of sneakers

So in this sentence, the speaker is going to try on the sneakers.

Why is the word koje used?

Koje is a relative pronoun meaning which / that. It refers back to patike.

It has to match patike in gender and number:

  • patike = feminine plural
  • therefore koje = feminine plural form

So:

  • patike koje su u prodavnici = the sneakers that are in the store
Why is it koje su and not some other form?

Because koje is the subject of the relative clause:

  • koje su u prodavnici = which are in the store

Here, the sneakers are the ones that are in the store, so the pronoun needs the nominative plural form, which is koje.

What does koje su u prodavnici add to the sentence?

It identifies which sneakers the speaker means.

Without that part:

  • Posle sastanka ću probati patike. = After the meeting I will try on sneakers.

With the relative clause:

  • Posle sastanka ću probati patike koje su u prodavnici. = After the meeting I will try on the sneakers that are in the store.

So it narrows down the meaning.

Why is it u prodavnici and not u prodavnicu?

Because u can take two different cases depending on meaning:

  • u + locative = location, in
  • u + accusative = motion toward, into

Here the meaning is location:

  • u prodavnici = in the store

If it were motion, it would be:

  • u prodavnicu = into the store
What does probati mean here exactly?

Here probati means to try on.

That verb can have several meanings depending on context, such as:

  • try
  • test
  • taste
  • try on

Because the object is patike, the natural meaning is try on sneakers/shoes.

What aspect is probati, and why is that important?

Probati is perfective. That means it presents the action as a single complete event.

In this sentence, that fits well because the speaker means one planned action in the future:

  • I’ll try them on

The imperfective partner would be something like probavati, which would suggest repeated trying or an ongoing/habitual action, and would sound less natural here.

Why is there no word for the in Serbian?

Serbian has no articles, so there is no direct equivalent of the or a/an.

Definiteness is understood from context. In this sentence:

  • sastanka can mean the meeting or a meeting, depending on context
  • patike koje su u prodavnici sounds fairly specific because the relative clause identifies them

So Serbian leaves that to context instead of using articles.

Can the word order be changed?

Yes, Serbian word order is fairly flexible. But the clitic ću still has to follow normal clitic placement rules.

The original sentence is natural and emphasizes when the action happens:

  • Posle sastanka ću probati patike koje su u prodavnici.

Other versions are possible, for example:

  • Probaću patike koje su u prodavnici posle sastanka.

That still means basically the same thing, but the emphasis can shift slightly.

How is ću pronounced?

Ću is pronounced roughly like tyoo, but with a softer t sound than in English.

A rough guide:

  • ć = a soft sound somewhat like t+y together
  • ćutyoo

It is different from the harder č sound. For English speakers, that contrast can take some practice.

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